Excerpts from hymns A and B have been found in several Egyptian temples, but the most complete versions are in the pronaos of the temple of Isis at Philae. No doubt the original date of composition of the hymns was considerably earlier than the inscriptions at Philae.
The presentation of hymn A is rather strange. It is written in a prominent position next to a picture of Thoth, but it is not addressed to Thoth. Although the hymn does not name the god who is being praised, it is apparently addressed to Amun - and Thoth must be leading the praise of Amun.
The speech C, which appears in a scene on the Gate of Euergetes at Karnak, provides further evidence for the adoration of Khonsu-Thoth, in the context of a festival that took place on the 19th day of the first month of the year.
The translations are adapted from J.-C. Goyon, in "Documents
de Théologies Thébaines Tardives", pp.71-72 &. 85-88.
[A] { Philae: central hymn of column 3 }
'To venerate the lord of the gods, and appease his ka, when his manifestation is seen.'
Hail to you! You have travelled through this land, and you have completed the journey in triumph! You lengthen your stride to proceed with haste. Now you have crossed the Two Lands and the aggressors, those conspiring against you, are repelled by fear of you who are present in your incarnation, and you walk according to your desire. The Henmemet rejoice at your coming, when you are the victorious bull with heart-piercing bellows and your enemies are shackled while you bellow.
You are the one who conceived earth and water for the god of the heavens, who discerned for him the two limits, who ceaselessly shatters the hearts of enemies and they lose their breath in terror of you. When you travel through this land, your followers are filled with happiness and your adversaries no longer approach your fighting enclosure, which is filled with your victory.
As you complete the circuit of celebration, you are welcome and you bring joy, when the authors of misdeeds are captured for you. Living beings rejoice for you when you reach the celestial heights, because every throat breathes thanks to your dew. Young people spit out semen more than males, wishing to multiply (?) in love of you. You rest upon them and your will is done among them in your manifestation as a [fertilizing] bull.
[B] { Philae: east side of column 3 }
Hail to you, Khonsu-Thoth, on this perfect day of instituting food supplies, of making the thrones preeminent, and of creating sustenance for the gods who are on their mats!
"Hail to you," says Re - You, the one who conciliated the heart of Atum, creating the divine company, because of whom your heart is satisfied on this perfect day on which you appear! You are a god raised on his shield who comes forth as the god himself, when the gates of the eastern horizon open for him on the day on which you are born. Then all the gods come forth at your command and it is said: "they come into existence." You are a sublime god, like a falcon with its imposing eye. May you protect the Son of Re the ever-living Ptolemy, the beloved of Ptah, the beneficent god, for he is Thoth [the twice great] in Hermopolis!
Hail to you, Thoth who conciliates the gods! You are pleased with him {i.e. the king} and when you appear on the eastern horizon, you smite the bloody prey which you have made into offerings for the gods. All the goddesses take care of the two eyes of Horus, when you have brought back the {lunar} disc, and your other semblance leaves since you have arrived. You extend your arms around them in your name of lah and you are sent for them in your name of the envoy-ibis!
[C] { Karnak: words spoken by the king }
I am your companion, Khonsu-Thoth, I am the first of those who join your retinue, and I satisfy your Majesty in your perfect festival on this day which is yours, the day of the deciding between the Two Brothers, and you grant me life until your perfect moment, in the perfect hours which are yours.
How perfect is your face! Your assessors are blessed, and those who follow you rejoice because your tool works in writing and then you lay down your pens. O venerable qfdnw-baboon who emerges triumphant, and whose head has been anointed with frankincense! The members of your tribunal of the Primordials, as well as Shu, who knows what See-and-Hear grant, are celebrating, having aromatic plants around their necks and fragrant rushes on their heads on the day of your festival in the entire country.
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